This is Atticus. He was sitting in doggie death row in the animal shelter when we found him. He had been turned in because he grew to be a very big boy. When the horrid people that he lived with as a puppy turned him in, he was infested with fleas which gave him a nasty skin condition on his butt and he had an upper respiratory infection. He was also underfed for a boy of his age and size. To be perfectly honest, he was pretty pathetic. But one look and I knew that he was mine. My AttyBear is sweet, patient, gentle, and pretty lazy. He loves cheese, especially Brie, and is probably the only dog on the planet that does not like peanut butter. We lost his beautiful partner, Aretha, recently and he has been getting accustomed to being an only dog. It’s been a hard adjustment and he has become very attached to both Carboy and I as a result. I am grateful to have his lovely presence in my life. He teaches everyone unconditional love and humility. And he loves to dance!

I love my pets. I’ve always had cats around, all through my childhood, someone in my family had a cat. I never actually owned my own pet until after I got married and bought a house. Of course my pets would all be rescue animals, that was going to go without saying. But somehow it’s always happened that no matter what I went out looking for, I always came back with a pet that had some sort of pre-existing condition. Somehow, I always wanted the one that no one else wanted – and I wanted that animal to be just as spoiled as the pick of the litter.

This is Sammy Jeaux.

She was the “left over” kitten from a litter of a young, stray cat. She was incredibly tiny with strange fur and a piercing cry. But I loved her spirit. Full grown she is not even a full four pounds but she is and always has been fearless! Filled with self-confidence, she loves to run, jump, and play all over the house. She loves toys with a passion and has her own toybox filled with a collection of toys that we’ve bought for her and things that she’s pretty much stolen on her own!

She is funny, amazing, hysterical, loving, challenging, and always seems to know exactly when I need a little extra time and attention from her. Today I am grateful to have the love of a little furry friend who even as I type this blog post is curled up next to me purring up a storm and keeping my feet warm.  I am grateful for my Sammy Jeaux who in her own little cat way teaches me lessons about courage, confidence, and the joy of being in the moment.